Goepel’s AOI system inspects larger PCBs

Goepel Electronic’s desktop AOI system Opticon Smartline is now able to inspect PCBs up to a maximum board size of 400 x 390mm.

The extension has not affected the compact system design and complete PC integration has been retained.

The Opticon Smartline is designed as desktop system for small-volume manufacturing to be used as an offline test station or repair station.

The system includes the company’s camera-based imaging unit featuring a custom telecentric lens and a flexible illumination concept of different colours and directions.

As the PC is completely integrated into the main chassis, only the monitor and keyboard need be connected to work with the system, allowing it to be used at a range of positions in the production process.

Based on the Extended Colour TechnologyT, the camera enables high-contrast recordings as well as high-resolution colour images.

They are available for colour-test tasks (e.g.

colour-code verification) and colour representation of detected faults at the repair station.

Extended Colour TechnologyT is available for all Opticon AOI systems, and can be upgraded in existing installations.

Goepel Electronic

German company Goepel Electronic is a leading vendor of electric and optical test and inspection systems for electronic components, PCBs and vehicle control units.

The company was founded in 1991. In addition to the circa 200 people who work in the company’s headquarters in Jena, Germany, Goepel Electronic runs several support and services offices in Germany, France, the UK, China, India and the US. More than 300 additional specialists ensure the local and on-site support of Goepel Electronic’s products via the worldwide distribution network. Goepel Electronic has continuously been ISO9001 certified since 1996. The company’s products have won several awards in recent years and have been used by the leading companies in telecommunications, automotive, space and avionics, industrial controls, medical technology and other industries.

In the UK, the branch in Cambridge is named Goepel Electronic Ltd.

Goepel Electronic is the technologically leading vendor of extremely innovative and high-performance JTAG/Boundary Scan software, as well as unrivalled hardware solutions. With more than 100 product launches in the last five years, the company has grown into the biggest innovator in the market.

Boundary Scan, compliant with IEEE Std 1149.x, is an innovative technology for the test, programming, emulation, debugging and validation of electronic components and PCBs. The standard allows the testing and programming of microprocessors, microchips and further highly complex components such as BGAs, µBGAs or CSPs due to their integrated Boundary Scan architecture. The multi-dimensionality of Goepel Electronic’s JTAG/Boundary Scan solutions was recently emphasised by the introduction of Embedded System Access (ESA) technologies and consequently the extension of application opportunities.

Additionally, Goepel Electronic provides high-performance and technologically high-class systems for the automated optical inspection (AOI) of mounted PCBs and the checking of board surfaces, displays and plain writing recognition for static and moving objects. The company provides standalone and in-line AOI systems for high-mix small volume up to the mass production of PCBs. The specifically developed Chameleon module generates an unrivalled field of view with excellent image quality at a 45° angle. With this, the orthogonal camera’s entire inspection area is covered. The inspection of solder joints and components concealed by other components is possible. Images can be captured from any angle position in 1° steps.

Goepel Electronic’s OptiCon X-Line 3D automated X-ray inspection system features a real-time 3D detector concept with maintenance-free micro-focus X-ray tube that allows simultaneous image capturing from different angles. Based on a revolutionary gigapixel technology, the system sets new standards, particularly in terms of speed. A real-time multi-angle image recording is the basis that enables a test speed of 40cm²/sec at full 3D PCB capturing. Integrated reconstruction methods, based on digital tomosynthesis, allow defined evaluation of the board’s single layers.

Goepel Electronic’s functional test and vehicle bus communication systems (Automotive Test Solutions) are used in the automotive and supplier industry. These are, among others, modular functional test systems and software tools for vehicle control units or simulation systems for most electronic components in automotive manufacturing. Innovative and intelligent PXI, PCI, Ethernet and USB modules are also provided.

The company also develops and produces customised test systems for various applications in many industry segments, such as automation, space/avionics or automotive.

Goepel Electronic’s corporate philosophy of 'get the total coverage' means a maximum fault and test coverage made possible by combinations and integrations of various test technologies. In addition to the company’s position as a one-stop shop for different test methods, it has become a competent partner through long-term experiences established in international customer projects.

Co-operations and partnerships with well-known test system vendors such as SPEA, TAKAYA, Teradyne, Aeroflex, DATEST, Mydata and National Instruments (to name just a few) have helped to close test gaps and guarantee clients maximum test coverage.

The range of implemented combinations — covering all possible test method combinations — is as broad as Goepel Electronic’s entire product portfolio. The company impressively demonstrates the versatile opportunities — to meet the customers’ individual test and quality demands. All solutions can be integrated into existing systems.